Hard Bull vs Soft Bull?

[Bowhuntr64]

I am planning a Buffalo Hunt in S Africa, with my bow, and am considering all of my options with the confines of my budget.

I can get a much better price for a Soft Bull than a Hard Bull. Should I consider getting a Soft Bull? What are your thoughts?

And if you have an outfitter that you recommend for a buffalo bow hunt, please shoot me a PM.

Thank you!

 

[GA Hunter]

A bull with soft bosses is young and not yet fully mature. They are not generally considered for harvest.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Soft Bull :
Young, less time put into this animal and thus less cost and as such cheaper, bull may actually be better looking on the hoof - no real fighting, horns in their prime or approaching it, bosses will be thick and once you've seen enough pictures you'll understand they have less character

Hard Bull:
Bosses look much better, but horns may be worn down, more time in this animal and thus higher cost, bull is likely to be grumpier, also likely to be "uglier" due to fighting and losing hair as he ages, likely smarter due to his experience and hopefully a better hunt

Are you hunting a buff or are you trying to collect one for your trophy room? I don't think there's anything wrong with collecting, so don't take my question as insulting. If you want the best possible hunt, my advice is to go for the older animal, but it is your money.

Jacques @JKO Hunting Safaris has guided bow hunters for buffalo. He is currently in Zim and may not be reachable, but will be back in the next week

 

[Timbo]

Go for the hard bossed mature bull. Their gnarled, worn, features indicate years of experience being hunted: as such they'll give you a very exciting hunt. And don't forget, a hard bossed trophy is something all hunters respect. As Phil says above, a soft bossed bull has less character. Because of their immaturity, soft bossed bulls are not generally harvested.

Happy hunting!

 

[mdwest]

If cost is a major consideration, why not go for an old cow vs a soft bull?

I have yet to hunt a cow.. but I have heard many accounts of them being equally as difficult, if not more difficult as an old dagga boy...

Might be worth thinking about...

 

[Royal27]

Would you be ok with shooting a forked horn mule deer instead of an old 5x5 for a reduced price for the young deer?

That's what it boils down to. Soft bull is a young bull. He may even be wider but he isn't the same.

 

[IvW]

I am planning a Buffalo Hunt in S Africa, with my bow, and am considering all of my options with the confines of my budget.

I can get a much better price for a Soft Bull than a Hard Bull. Should I consider getting a Soft Bull? What are your thoughts?

And if you have an outfitter that you recommend for a buffalo bow hunt, please shoot me a PM.

Thank you!

NO you should not be hunting a soft boss bull rather hunt an old cow, or a broken horned or even scrum cap old bull, with character which should fit into your "confines of my budget", it will not be any lesser of an experience if done on foot....

 

[buckmarkhunter]

I just returned from a buff bow hunt in Limpopo about 2 weeks ago. Go with a hard boss or a cow. The money you save imho isn’t worth it. There are some deals to be had either way. When I was in camp hunting a guy harvested a buffalo that was hard boss, great drop, curl and very old just didn’t have the spread. He got a great deal on him as he wasn’t that wide. It was after my hunt and I never saw that buffalo in the blind otherwise I might have taken him. If you need any help on setup or outfitter send me a pm. Good luck and if you use a bow don’t settle for a shot. I drew on buffalo before I let an arrow fly, just didn’t feel comfortable with the shot.

 

[JPbowhunter]

NO you should not be hunting a soft boss bull rather hunt an old cow, or a broken horned or even scrum cap old bull, with character which should fit into your "confines of my budget", it will not be any lesser of an experience if done on foot....

May I ask what a scrumcap bull looks like? Never heard that expression before.

 

[Royal27]

May I ask what a scrumcap bull looks like? Never heard that expression before.

This. Beautiful..... I'd LOVE to take one of these in the wild.

 

[JPbowhunter]

This. Beautiful..... I'd LOVE to take one of these in the wild.

View attachment 285289

Ah, agreed nothing says character like that!

 

[Tim Blackwell]

Personally, if an outfitter offered me a deal on a soft-bossed bull, I' d strike that outfitter off the list permanently.

Just my opinion. Yet to hunt Cape Buff but will be with Marius from KMG next year, and an old mature bull with a good boss is what I want - couldn't give a damn how many inches wide he is.

 

[WAB]

I could see where a rancher could get into a position of needing to monetize a young bull. Ranch hunting is not my cup of tea but if that is what you are doing, recognize that the buff is a crop and the rancher is managing inventory and cash flow. Personally, I will continue to hunt the wild places, but I am willing to pay more to do so.

 

[IvW]

This. Beautiful..... I'd LOVE to take one of these in the wild.

View attachment 285289

What he said......and showed

 

[GA Hunter]

This. Beautiful..... I'd LOVE to take one of these in the wild.

View attachment 285289

Yep. This old guy is bound to be in a bad mood.

 

[JKO HUNTING SAFARIS]

In all respect it grieves me when people sell soft bossed buffalo bulls. In my opinion hunting is a big part of conservation and that is to try and take the older animals out of the system so the younger, stronger and hopefuly better genes can take the population forward.

I will never be able to find the satisfaction in hunting a “not so good” trophy. I would suggest rather save up a little longer and book a proper buffalo hunt with a outfitter that can gaurantee you a old hard bossed buffalo bull. There is just a different feeling when taking a shot at a old warrior than a young gun with no fighting spirit.

This is a perfect example of a nice old hard bossed bull.

Please feel free to send me a pm with questions any time sir.

 

[spike.t]

@Royal27 here you are ...but Finn beat you to it....one of his two he took in Sept 2017 in Moz with Jamie Wilson......they don't come much older than this

 

[postoak]

Is it true that some bulls never harden? At what age is hardening complete? If it varies, couldn’t you have an old daga boy with a soft boss?

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Is it true that some bulls never harden? At what age is hardening complete? If it varies, couldn’t you have an old daga boy with a soft boss?

Check out this thread: Judging Cape Buffalo: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/judging-cape-buffalo.378/.

 

[DWB]

You can hunt an old cow any day of the week. Make sure you hunt them in the bushveld and not in the grasslands and you will have a proper hunt.

I have hunted 1 bull and 2 cows and will do another cow if I can tomorrow. Mature old bulls are always more impressive, but a decent old cow is nothing less deserving.... and don't bugger up your shot, the old lady will make you shivver and sweat